Whitney Houston - "How Will I Know" (Merv Griffin Show 1985)

Whitney Houston made her television debut on the Merv Griffin Show in 1983, before she even had a record out. This clip shows her singing her hit song "How Will I Know" off her first album on April 29, 1985l. Merv Griffin had over 5000 guests appear on his show from 1963-1986. Footage from the Merv Griffin Show is available for licensing to all forms of media through Reelin' In The Years Productions. www.reelinintheyears.com.

[@danielhelliwell3064]

I seriously believe Whitney was the greatest vocal genius of all time especially from the 80's

[@sanyrub]

Yes, that´s pretty much true :)

[@DarkSkies72]

daniel helliwell Her mother taught her well

[@nippyjee8430]

daniel helliwell and the best Live performer of all time.. she set the standard so High that no new generations and new singers can ever surpassed that..

[@christophepena9450]

Nippy Jee not the best LIVE performer. ..she was not always great live...

[@griff6413]

Nippy Jee... The best live performer was , and will always be Michael Jackson.

[@Kenneth-tx8mg]

Her face never changed! So funny to see her laughing at her wardrobe malfunction, rather than her falling apart from it. Such great stride and not taking herself too seriously.

[@mariannarosario6294]

"O My God!! Why didn't you tell me? Why didn't you tell me?!" lmao

[@marclamont9201]

I never realized what she said until now. She said "why didnt you tell me my tits were hanging out" lol

[@NiPPy3GA]

Lmbo this what she was talking about when her first performance on a show that strap was down to her breast an she didn’t know LOL

[@eleanorj563]

I didn't understand this comment until I watched the whole thing lol

[@NajSinghs]

@3:44

[@nahuelma97]

@@marclamont9201 lmfao I hadn't even realized what happened

[@vincentleegarcia342]

My parents are right. Her songs from her debut album were all chart-toppings. God blessed this lady with a big talent. The world misses her now. RIP Whitney

[@Whatisthis438]

Yet didn't give a crap about her when she was alive. smh

[@jorgeantonioreinoso7579]

They could have re-released "Hold me" with a video and it had been # 1

[@criticaltimes-k8o]

Whitney had IT.... she was beautiful

[@debbie9929]

Taylor Swift can't hold a candle to this beautiful voice. Perfection.

[@user-lt5be9jl4q]

That's for sure

[@leanhquoc3109]

Gosh, love seeing her enjoy herself like that, just so full of life. Can't believe she was just that young, but look how confident she is on stage! The ending was hillarious tho haha

[@doneecemcneil7826]

Gm edagdwg love this special story of what true love feels like god gives gifts of true love only soooooo blessed to know god for myself Linda j. Peace love this lady miss her

[@ALBundy73]

Think the same , her voice and songs are so powerfull

[@iamCooLcat]

Lol she's really a professional ... she knows how to handle things like that on stage ^_^ the show must go on!! :D ;)

[@mickky009]

Achel Ann 😆

[@curtiscullen7389]

Whitney Houston was very hot back in the eighties. Even though it's been about two and a half years now since her passing, I still can't believe that she's gone. R.I.P.!

[@lithiumclears]

she's always very hot especially on her It's not right but it's okay era.

[@marissatabor7569]

It wasn't just the 80's

[@celinawizchaneURL156]

The way you can tell if she isnt singing is if she doesnt change the rhythm. Whitney is always so great live because of how much she can switch things up.

[@davidbradley1735]

There is no place for drugs in the music industry, it's destroyed so many lives and so much talent.

[@tonyd360]

Haha. The quick peek to check things out at 4:01. The quick fix and shoulder shimmy at 4:12. And the "show and go" at 4:13. 😂😂😂😂 LMBO. R. I. P. Whitney.

[@DaisyAnnabelle65]

She was absolutely gorgeous! I love Whitney Houston forever! Rest In Peace Beautiful One❤️🙏 ✝️

[@Bizmonger]

And if she were ugly?

[@aimeedus]

Hahhaa the end was hilarious.. I would have been so embarrassed .. Whitney was gorgeous !

[@MsJoose59]

She was so gracious even in the most embarrassing of circumstances. How could one not love her?

[@Thegazelle1000]

Whitney wasn't dancing, she was jumping 😂😂😂. I love her and miss her!

[@highbelter]

The moment she realizes it at 4:00 is priceless

[@SerafiniAGaunt]

And that was the last time she ever jumped around that much on stage

[@nahuelma97]

I Wanna Dance With Somebody live at Arista's anniversary was kinda close though

[@SerafiniAGaunt]

Nahuel Martínez Probably because she was taped in much better, lol

[@leanhquoc3109]

Serafini Gaunt lmao

[@brandonburrell8517]

@@nahuelma97 That performance is iconic, and totally live.

[@tur74d56]

Brandon Burrell not live here

[@michaelfairbairn4283]

Ms. Houston was the voice of a generation. Like Judy Garland or Barbara Streisand or Frank Sinatra, she is simply iconic.

[@honeysky1102]

Oh my goodness she was so excited to be on his show. She is missed and loved by millions forever. 🌷

[@GreenBananaz]

I can't how amazingly talented she was 😢

[@aleayh]

Lol, check Whitney out trying to dance...too cute!! Gorgeous as ever with that amazing smile!!

[@thegodfatherofthesec1748]

Merv was a Gem 💎! Whitney got her Start on his Show ! Great job Merv ! I remember it well !

[@charliethephoenixmyers4036]

How could her voice sound so pure and perfect so early on in her career? Like before all of the maturing, refining and vocal lessons. Just amazing to me. 😔 I miss this time so much.

[@chilledguy5810]

Man god blessed her with an amazing gift! Nothing but talent.. so is her mom.

[@arthurmurray7657]

I guess nobody noticed the “nipple slip” @ 3:55..lmao The best to ever hit the stage

[@Lexisreallyhere]

I still cry when I think about her. She was like my older sister growing up and made a huge impact on my life to this day. ❤

[@ChristopherMonster1]

Simply one if greatest singer of all time

[@austinpennington7689]

How does she sound EXACTLY like the recording, unreal

[@candykane5140]

SHE LOOKS SO HAPPY AND FILLED WITH SO MUCH ENERGY!!! MAY YOU REST IN HOLY PEACE!!!RIP

[@lovethwillock8952]

Beautiful Whitney.

[@555jalene]

OK this is adorable

[@HadassahIsrael97]

Wow, she was so breathtakingly beautiful and gifted

[@mattyhassan7188]

This one isnt live. ..she does live really good💚💚. U guys watching should check out her other live performances of this song..even better than the radio!!! ☺☺I dnt understand why she didnt do it live. She had a really good voice so when she sang it almost sounded like the album ...that's how good she was.... live on her own she was that talented she would even throw notes in that were not in official song. When she was on stage and she was caught up in the energy and the moment she would pull notes out and extend verses with different words and add things. ... all in perfect timing.... she was brilliant absolutely brilliant 😆😆😆

[@anitamczorn8297]

Possibly saving her voice for something else bigger and more important then the show she was on.

[@jeframp3805]

very very rare for her not to sing .

[@KomplexiveMind]

With that wig on she looks like a young Dionne go head and sang then Nippy I miss her still daily

[@twintina17]

That was actually her REAL hair here

[@tanya4534]

@@twintina17 it's a wig, it's pretty obvious judging from the side profile.

[@TheLanard]

LOL!!! It's a wig.

[@Dual971]

Hair we go again...

[@debracox507]

It’s hers it was put in a little pony tail because obviously her stylist didn’t know what to do with her short hair. There’s no way in hell they would’ve put a wig into a ponytail like that make it make sense🙄 Nip liked her hair short but trust and believe she could grow a head of long hair it was just fine. Back in the 80’s was when all the up and coming artist started wearing full weaves vs. natural hair. That is her natural hair get into it 😐😑

[@tur74d56]

I lov this performance , she is really going for it rather than just standing there like she did on other award shows, she also looks so young!

[@ishdenzel]

The best voice this world has ever seen. So blessed to have listened to her.

[@scheckdj]

She was so adorable - fame destroyed her sweet soul!!

[@chasenip2]

Fame & her fcuked up family. The Houston’s are as bad as the Jackson’s.

[@herbertcarrillo-ramos3772]

Fame didn’t destroy her, WE did…we expected too much from her and WE never left her alone. WE were always in business and that wasn’t for ….

[@95KIPPIE]

Arista seemed to hurt her too!

[@xana5649]

Drugs did it

[@xana5649]

​@@herbertcarrillo-ramos3772exactly

[@salicemccool9268]

She's so young and "innocent" here. It's painful to watch, in a way.

[@taleciadennis9909]

Why painful?

[@seantingz7714]

@@taleciadennis9909 because she didn’t know what would be ahead of her in a few years

[@brucep9393]

I dont think she was very innocence . Black women who grow up in her era never had a time to be innocent. They were dealing with a lot of trauma. Combine with expectations of the church, confusion about sexuality, money and fame and it was a recipe for disaster.

[@liminal6823]

She wasn't innocent *at all* - that's a myth, sadly.

[@dominiforelli]

She was human. Point blank period. The world put expectations & labels on her but really she was just human. Like all of us. No one is perfect.

[@vanessatorres1698]

She was so Gorgeous and so Sweet! God Bless Her💜⚘💜⚘💯

[@johnjohnblazin]

Never met her but love her so much and miss her

[@alonso19689]

That was a hell of a show from sweet Nippy! Wowwwwww!! Love everything about this performance! :)

[@user-uh7cz3tu7f]

Wow. Whitney. the great time. Beautiful ever.

[@marq11181]

she was so beautiful here

[@catriniasmith8009]

I've seen her love at that she and she was amazing. Makes me wish that she dressed more like this. Because she was very young and they afterward made her look mature but still beautiful 😙

[@laranervar4438]

Wow whitney you are truly professional...even this innocent...you know how to handle unforseen situations like this!!!!!

[@vincycanadian1993]

No one can touch you. You were and will always be the best.

[@hottboi1977]

She was just as beautiful the day she died!!!

[@TheLanard]

I remember when she told Donnie Simpson on Video Soul, back in 1991, she was doing this performance, she noticed all the men in the front row with their eyes popping out, like they were waiting for something big to happen. She was like, "Why are they looking at me like that?" Then she said a girl in the front was pointing at her breast. That's when she looked down @4:00. She turned and pulled it up. But, she was so embarrassed. Now THAT was a wardroom malfunction. LOL.

[@cvdixon29]

Yes and she turned and looked over at Merv and then slipped her other hand up and fixed it. Lol.

[@charlesjeffery1155]

OMG 🤦‍♂️, I swear on everything, I just remembered that interview, she was on the entire show, as the one that would say all the videos that were coming on for him,and I didn't remember, or don't remember, she said it was the Merv Griffin show, but I definitely remember her saying it, and saying that it was during how would I know, but they edited that part out of this one, right ❔❓⁉️, because I didn't see her boob come out 😱

[@ryanvicentillo4667]

4:01 now that was timing she looked down quick then belt it out haha

[@thevobb]

Look at that joy in her face, beautiful.... Vila i frid Whitney

[@Blatino]

What a gorgeous woman. Completely adorable!!

[@DIETRICHCICCONE]

Sweet beautiful Whitney 🌹🌹🌹

[@mubarak3457]

Waow!!! I was 15 years old in those amazing days

[@MapleSyrupPoet]

She's got class, and style 😙😙

[@jubbadupa]

Merv Griffin was too funny... he always had a marvellous show going (as he would say). I do miss the old days where guest would come on to promote their music and do their thing, and they were welcomed and treated nicely. Like the old Mike Douglas show... Rosie sort had that thing going on. When we lost Merv and Mike the older style show seem to disappear. I remember when entertainment tonight was a show about what was going on in the industry, and what the people in the industry were doing. Now it's just about gossip and what they are doing in their private lives. Merv was a one of a kind entertainment mogul, and had may show on the air... I think Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune are 2 of his shows that are still going.

[@liannegreen692]

He was quite the mogul was he. I remember the show Dance Fever, with Denny Terrio; that show was really a hot show.

[@bobjacubas6818]

Merv was great for television and his show was a long lasting daytime talk show, we use to get it about 4 in the afternoon.

[@shottut]

Yeah, he did always say that ! A marvellous show today. Didn't that guy from Dance Fever accuse him of sexual harassment or something like that.

[@NajSinghs]

@3:44 is why she said, "Why didn't you TELL me!?” 😂❤👏👏👏💕 Maulfunction & nip slips happen. You STILL killed this song w/ those dance moves. 😂🤗❤🌹🌹🌹👑😔💔💕👏👏👏

[@CornbreadMillionaireLifestyle]

She is energetic, beautiful and full of joy. Great video. Made me smile.

[@iniakalitoni3405]

"Why didn't you tell me" awww🤣🤣

[@anibalrussell807]

No one like Whitney...❤️

[@jordanrich8869]

Watching this is so tragic knowing all the bad stuff that happened to her in her life. At least now she is finally at peace. Thank you Whitney for this music that will live on ❤️

[@alanhudson2999]

OH MY!!..look at Whitney..she was sooo young..Just starting her career..U go Whitney!!! Ur music will live forever..priceless..we miss u Whitney.

[@toffamuhammad3707]

Oh my god, I was born on this year. And I really love whitney...

[@singingmanmd]

Very cute, " why didnt u tell me", lol!!!

[@g.meganruff8284]

I've watched this performance sooooo many times and never thought it looked like lip sync till now. Regardless, it doesn't matter cuz I know it's her voice and she was amazing.

[@bestvocalsbyvocalists849]

It is bc shows has no budgets back in the 80's or probably this is for commercial to earn money out of her.

[@raymondlowe7099]

If you want to sample her live version try MTV kzbin.info/www/bejne/mmPdi5d3rbeLg8U

[@kchambers777]

Hilarious, it takes a truly special person to laugh at yourself in a moment like that.

[@soundseeker63]

So bubbly and happy back then, before all the bad stuff happened, that bit towards the end...hilarious! :-D

[@Swoncey]

If there was a similar talent in the music industry in 2023, all songs would hit the top of the charts.

[@Christopher070]

I'm surprised to see her singing this in April of '85 because I specifically remember this song didn't really top the charts until early '86. I just checked Wikipedia page of the song to make sure I wasn't losing my memory in my older age and see it was indeed released November 22, 1985 and topped the charts in February of '86 which is what I remember. (I was 16 at the time and buying 45's was my obsession so I can recall when songs came out down to the month just from memory, and this song reminds me of winter and snow because of the time of year it was on the radio lol) Anyways, I thought I was losing my mind for a moment because I do not remember hearing this song anytime in early '85. It's such a fun performance and her energy and enthusiasm makes me miss her so much and I can't believe we're coming up on the 10th anniversary of her passing. I'm glad we all have these songs and videos to cherish and remember her with.

[@ChosenRellll1111]

It was so effortless I don’t understand it I can’t sing effortlessly and I’m a singer but it takes focus and singing from my heart she can barley sing and it’s effortlessly true talent 🖤🤦🏽‍♂️🙏🏾 god touched her and Cissy Houston

[@michaelgilroy4211]

What a wonderful singer and great uplifting Joyful Woman A great Talented performer and great Confidence.let us always Remember this Beautiful good Woman 💕 Angel Rest in peace and thank GOD for your Music and Songs .

[@taleciadennis9909]

Ohhh how i love her❤❤❤❤

[@selease]

Nobody else had that beautiful tone!

[@adjusturcrown1549]

Here in 2019...watch her videos all the time. ❤️

[@jacksonjohn6573]

ceia de vida & alegria...deixa muitas saudades=amo muito a WH

[@bd3825]

Damn what a beautiful body

[@brandonburrell8517]

Goes directly to "Whitney Houston singing You Give Good Love on the Johnny Carson Show".

[@Lubbylove89]

She is simply adorable here.

[@elshawnajenkins3798]

This brings me smiles. Gorgeous.

[@roseleon1528]

Espectacular

[@GoodMrDawes]

Awesome

[@moniquemitchell5092]

Sooo incredibly beautiful!!! 💜

[@latoshaadams8985]

Beautiful song girl

[@idiosyncraticparadise1655]

to see her laughing n soo happy brings me to tears love you WH

[@clairec25]

shes miming in this, still love her x

[@ramonahamm6292]

Just effortless beauty and a voice from God ❤️very much missed

[@romanigypsy7219]

So pretty

[@terrybroussard9911]

She was so happy...

[@raffaelestingo9506]

My Whitney is always in my heart and my prayers ❤️

[@Dual971]

Gosh... She was loved!

[@cheykiddd]

When a song is new she has got too lip sync on televison shows so that they can here the actual recording... THEN AT THE CONCERTS SHE COULD ACTUAL HAM LIVE. Its the biz ive learned

[@Hcarrillo45]

she didnt lip sing...........................

[@lizzylaronde2234]

Southbeachmuscle Florida She lip synch'd a lot, jus like everyone else did in the music industry.

[@dennisjacks7923]

Southbeachmuscle Florida Oh PLEASE.... how old are you ?

[@Hcarrillo45]

51

[@Hcarrillo45]

yeah u right

[@claricesieiro4431]

Incomparável, única Whitney forever estrela de Deus 🌟🕊️🙏❤️👏👏👏!!!

[@BirdsAtDaybreak]

we miss you so much Whitney

[@CelestineSelene]

Too cute!!! LOL!

[@gorgeousj206]

She had the glow 😔

[@lovely10145]

Lmaoooo I loooove her 💓💓💓 but that moment when she realized the slip went perfect with the song “ohhhhh how will I knooooww” 😭😭😭

[@Garry-ok8vq]

R.I.P Whitney. Houston

[@pablocabrera2217]

Que Linda!! Una hermosa mujer, ke voz ke carisma únicos! Indudablemente ella fue la creadora de un nuevo estilo para cantar, hubo un antes y un despues de Ella, su estilo muy imitado por las ke asomaron despues y se vanaglorian de parecerse su voz y su estilo a la Diva Suprema ke fue Whitney, no habrá otra como Ella!!

[@noelleslie6665]

She looks so much like her first cousin Ms Dionne Warwick.a class singer...The pretty Ms.whitney Houston,the voice@!!

[@fartknocker132]

Did you read/hear that Dionne Warwick sexually abused Whitney as well as one of Whitney's brothers??

[@Black_American_Native]

@@fartknocker132 that was dee dee Warwick. Also tbh we don't know if that true either coming from pat... But yea dee Dee, Dionne Warwick sister

[@fartknocker132]

@@Black_American_Native Ohhh, was Dee Dee, NOT Dionne? My bad...will do some more reading about it this weekend. Ultimately though...I just had no idea how horrible Whitney's life really was by the end of it....her own dad sued her, a family member sexually assaulted her, she died, her daughter died...like holy shit.

[@jewel19001]

BEST

[@herbertcarrillo-ramos3772]

She was so young and adorable…I miss you my Queen